Islamabad, Jan 1: On Wednesday, Chairman of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Major General (retd) Hafeez Rehman reassured the Senate Standing Committee on IT and Telecom, dismissing concerns about the vulnerability of submarine cables, stating that “sharks can’t eat the submarine cables.”
He provided an update on the ongoing efforts to enhance Pakistan’s internet infrastructure, revealing that seven submarine cables, including the highly anticipated 2Africa cable, will be connected to Pakistan’s main network later this year. In addition, the PTA has plans to connect four more cables in the coming years, aiming to boost internet capacity and improve reliability.
While speaking on the regulatory front, Major General Rehman expressed confidence that more entities would soon begin submitting applications to the PTA for the registration of their virtual private networks (VPNs), further expanding Pakistan’s digital landscape.
During the meeting, one senator raised concerns regarding the country’s low internet speeds, with Pakistan currently ranked 97th globally. The senator highlighted persistent issues, such as difficulties in downloading voice notes, which continue to affect the user experience. In response, the committee agreed to seek input from the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Law to address these ongoing challenges, ensuring a more reliable and efficient internet service for the population.
